Jar lifter



Nov. 6, 1945. M. T. STURR JAR LIFTER Filed Oct. 23, 1944 WITNESSES 0mm m BY 1 N VEN TOR:

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAR LIFTER. Margaret T. Sturr, Haddon Heights, N. J.

Application October 23, 1944, Serial No. 559,949

7 4 Claims. (Cl. 294-33) This invention has reference to devices for handling jars and the like commonly used in the canning or packing industries while it relates, more particularly, to such a device for lifting and carrying Mason-jars and similar containers commonly used by housewives and others in the preservation of fruits, vegetables and other edibles for home consumption.

The main object of my invention is to provide an improved lifter or carrier that is simple in construction, cheaply manufactured, and which can be easily and effectively operated for handling jars and similar containers preferably employed for canning and cold-packing purposes with a minimum of danger and accidental loss of such containers.

Another object is the provision of a jar-lifter and carrier having a comparatively wide range of usefulness, that is to say it can be equally well used for lifting jars of different neck diameters and sizes.

Other objects, with ancillary advantages, of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed explanation of the preferred embodiment thereof shown by the acompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views; while the concluding claims more particularly define the features of novelty over the prior art.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a view in elevation of a preferred form of the jar-lifter constructed in accordance with this invention, said view having an intermediate portion of a. clamping or locking element broken out for clearer illustration of underlying structure.

Fig. 2 is a view taken at right angles to the preceding, and showing the jar-lifter in active position or as applied -to a fragmentary upper portion of a conventional Mason-jar; and,

Fig. 3 is an underside plan view of the jarlifter.

In describing the form of this invention exemplified in the drawing herewith, specific terms will be employed for the sake of clarity, but it is to be understood the scope of said invention is not thereby limited; each such term being intended to embrace all equivalents which perform the same function for an analogous purpose.

As disclosed in the drawing the improved jarlifter therein depicted comprises a pair of legs 5, 6, each of which is fabricated from app priate gage wire, said legs being spirally twisted together to provide a rigid, or short, spiralized stem-portion 1. One of the legs 5, for example, is suitably bent to form an arcual section or jaw 8 with flanking rectangular-sections 9, the later having mutually engaged continuations that jointly define a shank l0 merging into the spiralized stem 1, aforesaid.

I The other jaw 6 is complementarily-fashioned to include an opposing jaw H, rectangular-sections 12, and a shank I3, with one leg continuation l4 extended and coiled to form a lifter or carrier-loop l5; while the free end of said loop is shaped to define a guide-eye [6, the purpose whereof is later on set forth. At this juncture it is to be noted that the respective parts 8, 9, II and I2 are, respectively'and preferably rectangularly related. In other words, the parts 8 and 'H normally function in a substantiallyhorizontal plane; whereas the parts 9 and [2 are approximately vertically disposed with respect to said horizontal plane; while the shanks I0, it are divergingly flexed or biased outwards below the spiralized stem 1, as shown in Fig. 2, for a purpose later explained.

For clamping or holding the gripping jaws 5, B in lifting or carrying engagement with the neck I! of a conventional Mason-jar l8, see Fig. 2, use is made of a locking-member l9. This member I9 is preferably made of wire, of the same gage as that of the parts previously described, to include a straight portion 20, slidable lengthwise through the guide-eye I6 aforesaid, and having at its lower end a loop 2| of sufficient diameter to encircle the both shanks l0, l3 at various angular degrees of relative separation. In addition the portion 20, of the locking-member I9, is provided, at the upper end, with an angularlyrelated manipulator section 22, conveniently formed by bending in an obvious manner. At this point it is well to note that the free end of the loop 2| by coaction with the relatively adj oining leg continuation l0, serves to ensure direct linear travel of the locking-member l9; and prevents rotary movement of said member relative to the respective shanks l0, I3, which materially aids in applying and removing the lifter, as a unit, in respect to the jar l8. It is to be further tangular sections 9, I2 of the jaws 5, 6; while the inside diameter of the loop 2] is such as to prevent complete collapse of the shanks l0, l3 into mutual abutment, whereby the bias of said shanks remain unimpaired.

In use the locking-member I9 is first drawn out relative to the lifter as a unit, or the loop 2| is moved towards the spiralized stem 1, with resultant and automatic separation of the jaws 5, 6 under the recoil action inhering to the initial bias imposed on the respective shanks I0, 13. The separated jaws 5, 6 are next applied to the neck H of the jar is with concurrent movement inward of the member l9 by the manipulator section 22, until the loop 2! grips the shanks l0, l3, whereupon the jaws 5, 6 become firmly and op posingly clamped to said neck ll. It will be selfevident the jar I 8 can now be safely lifted, or carried, with positive assurance of non separation of the jar neck I! frombetween the jaws 5; '6 until necessary or desired.

From the foregoing it will be clearly apparent that a jar-lifter or carrier constructed as hereinbefore described and shown will be found particularly useful in the generality of households, during the canning or cold-packing season; and while I have explained a preferred embodiment thereof, the same is not to be considered limitative, otherwise than the prior art prescribes.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A jar-lifter and carrier comprising a pair of opposedly-influenced' members respectively consisting of a length of wire bent intermediate the ends to provide a shank including mutuallyengaged straight leg portions, said' portions being spiralized together proximate one end to form a rigid section; a gripping-jaw at the free end of each shank straight portion. including opposed rectangular extensions with an intervening integral curved connection; suspension means, at the outer end of the rigid section, consisting of an extension of one of the spiralized portions of the bent wires formed into a lifter-loop, with its free end turned into a guide-eye; an associated slidable locking-element movable through the guideeye and embodying a loop at one end encircling the shank straight portions; and a manipulator projection at the outer end of the locking element, whereby the respective movable-memberslre closable inward with the gripping-jaws locked to a'iar neck.

2. A jar-lifter and carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein the opposedly-influenced members are divergingly biased outward from the inner end of thespiralized rigid section; and the gripping-jaw shank rectangular extension, with the integral curved connection, are respectively disposed in planes. at approximately right-angles to one another.

3.v Ajar-lifter and carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein the slidable-element consists of a length of wire of the same gage as that forming the opposedly-infiuenced members; such length of wire being provided'at one end with a loop, in a plane at rightv angles thereto, and having its free end.- arranged to coact with the adjoining leg portion; and a manipulator at the other end of said wire formed by retroversion of the latter into angularly-related position.

4. A jar-lifter and carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein the slidable locking-element loop is of an inside diameter to prevent complete collapsing of the gripping jaws into mutual abutment, and the length of the straight portion of said locking element does not exceed that intervening the guide means and the rectangular extensions of the opposedly-infiuenced members.

MARGARET T. STURR. 

